Italdesign Zerouno

Italdesign Zerouno

The Italdesign Zerouno, unveiled at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show and delivered in 2018, represented an extraordinary moment in automotive history: the first time that Italdesign Giugiaro — the legendary design and engineering firm founded by Giorgetto Giugiaro in 1968 — produced and sold a car under its own name. After five decades of designing cars for every major manufacturer in the world, Italdesign finally created one for itself.

The name 'Zerouno' means '01' in Italian, signifying the first of what Italdesign hoped would become an occasional series of ultra-limited production cars. Built on a modified Audi R8 platform, the Zerouno retained the R8's magnificent 5.2-liter naturally aspirated V10 engine, producing 610 horsepower and 565 Nm of torque. The seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch gearbox and quattro all-wheel-drive system were also carried over, providing a proven mechanical foundation for the bespoke body.

The exterior design was entirely new and dramatically different from the R8. Filippo Perini, Italdesign's head of design (who had previously styled cars at Lamborghini), created a body that was angular, aggressive, and covered in functional aerodynamic elements. Large air intakes, a prominent rear diffuser, an active rear wing, and extensive carbon fiber bodywork gave the Zerouno a visual intensity that matched its performance. Every body panel was unique to the Zerouno — nothing was shared with the donor R8.

The interior was similarly bespoke, with a cabin finished in carbon fiber, Alcantara, and leather to each customer's individual specification. Digital instrumentation, a racing-derived flat-bottom steering wheel, and carbon fiber racing seats created an environment that was luxurious and purposeful in equal measure.

Performance was extraordinary: 0-100 km/h in 3.4 seconds, with a top speed exceeding 330 km/h. The naturally aspirated V10 provided a linear power delivery and an unforgettable exhaust note — a howling mechanical symphony that no turbocharged engine could replicate.

All five Zerouno coupes were sold before the car was officially unveiled, at a price of approximately 1.7 million euros each. A Duerta (open-top) version was subsequently announced. The Zerouno stands as a unique statement of Italdesign's capabilities — proof that the company that designed cars for the world could, when it chose to, build one of the most exclusive supercars ever created.